'Redneck Island' casting call at the Flora-Bama brings out dozens of reality show hopefuls (photos)

ORANGE BEACH, Alabama -- Niki Sherman may just have what it takes to be America's next big reality star. Sherman, 26, of Bon Secour, was one of dozens of people who came out to the Flora-Bama Lounge and Package on Saturday night for a casting call in the hopes of being a contestant on CMT's reality show, "Redneck Island."

Sherman, an employee of a dredging company that has contracts locally, is also an amateur cage fighter. She's hoping the producers spotted her high energy and willingness to do just about anything if selected for the show.

"Yeah, I'll do whatever they need. I'll fight, roll around, whatever. I'm ready to be on the show and do it all," Sherman said. "I'd love to be on the show."

The casting call drew people from an assortment of occupations that included a bartender, nurse, delivery driver, software engineer, teacher as well as several Alabama students and more than one retired person.

CMT has aired two seasons of the show, in which contestants compete for a $100,000 prize. They are placed on an island where host Steve Austin, a former pro wrestler, subjects them to a series of redneck-themed mental and physical challenges.

Kim Clevenger of CMT was on hand to recruit potential contestant's the show. "I hear people from all over Alabama who say 'I am the most redneck you'll find,' and so I invite people to come down and show us what you got," Clevenger said at the start of Saturday's casting call.

She said those who make the cut "will drink beer with Steve Austin, hang on the beach and try to stay on the show while staying in Mexico."

The casting began at 5 p.m. and by 9 p.m., dozens of people, both men and women, signed up, then posed for a photograph holding a casting call digit for producers. Jill Blakeney, 45, of Birmingham was at the Flora-Bama to catch her favorite local musician, Jack Roberston, who provided the background music to the casting call.

"We literally drove from Birmingham to see Big Earl (Jack Robertson) perform. Then, I hear about this and I'm like, oh yeah, where do I sign up," Blakeney said. "Hey, they don't call me back then they ain't looking for a real redneck."